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'What a disgrace': NBA world erupts after insane Kyrie Irving feat

Kyrie Irving, pictured here dropping 60 points for the Brooklyn Nets against the Orlando Magic.
Kyrie Irving dropped 60 points for the Brooklyn Nets against the Orlando Magic. Image: Getty

NBA fans were once again left fuming over the farcical situation surrounding Kyrie Irving on Tuesday after the unvaccinated star dropped 60 points for the Brooklyn Nets against the Orlando Magic.

Irving isn't allowed to play games held in New York because of the state's vaccination mandate for workers.

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That means he can't play games at the Nets' home court, or when they play away against the New York Knicks.

On Tuesday the Nets travelled to Orlando to face the Magic, and Irving put on an absolute masterclass.

The point guard scored a career-high 60 points in a dazzling display as the Nets extended their winning streak with a 150-108 victory.

Irving - who had bagged 50 points last week in a victory over Charlotte - delivered another performance for the ages against an outclassed Magic at Orlando's Amway Centre.

The Nets star's tour de force surpassed his previous career best of 57 points - set in 2015 while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

"I felt good," Irving said after his epic display. "It really is a testament to the way we've been gelling as a team - us just giving each other confidence and doing the right things.

"When you can get 60 in the flow of the game and it doesn't seem forced, and you're not putting up a few too many bad shots, and you come to the bench and guys are supporting you, telling you to go after the record - that makes the basketball worth it."

Kyrie Irving, pictured here driving to the basket against the Orlando Magic.
Kyrie Irving drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

NBA world fumes after Kyrie Irving explosion

The situation surrounding Irving's vaccination status descended into a farce on Sunday when he was allowed to sit in the crowd at Barclays Centre for a Nets home game.

New rules in New York mean spectators don't have to be vaccinated to enter the arena, meaning Irving was able to purchase his own tickets and sit courtside.

However he is still banned from playing games in New York, leaving fans and fellow players very confused.

LeBron James was among the many to hit out at the situation, tweeting: “It literally makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE!!!

“They say if common sense was common then we’d all have it. Ain’t that the truth."

James finished his tweet with the hashtag #FreeKyrie.

Fans were quick to call for a resolution to the farce on Tuesday after Irving's insane 60-point outburst.

Irving made 20-of-31 from the field on Tuesday, making eight of 12 attempts from outside the arc.

A career-high performance looked inevitable after an explosive first half from Brooklyn.

The Nets piled on 48 points in the first quarter alone before adding 38 in the second quarter to lead 86-56 at half-time.

Irving contributed 41 points in that devastating first half, leaving him only 16 shy of his individual record.

He brought up 50 points - the sixth half-century of his career - with a driving layup in the third quarter, prompting chants of "Kyrie, Kyrie" from the Orlando crowd.

Two free-throws saw him reach his record at 57 and then a magical three-point pull-up from 26 feet saw him hit the 60-point mark.

Irving's points haul came 24 hours after the Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns scored 60 in a victory over the Spurs.

It is the first time different players have scored 60 points or more on consecutive nights in the NBA since 1962.

with agencies

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